The twentieth chapter of John’s gospel has one of the most dramatic moments in the Bible. That first Sunday morning after Christ’s crucifixion, Mary Magdalene discreetly made her way to the tomb while it was still dark. She was shocked to discover that the entrance’s stone had been removed. She was surprised to hear the name of the risen Jesus tenderly calling as she stood beside the empty tomb. When she reacted, “Rabboni-my Master,” one can easily understand the amazement in her voice.
One of the most well-known gospel songs ever written was inspired by this exhilarating biblical story.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing…John 20:14
Author: C Austin Miles (1868-1946)
Year: 1912
Charles Austin Miles was born at Lakehurst, NJ in 1868. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he became a pharmacist. He married Bertha H Haagen, and they had two sons: Charles and Russell.
Miles was a pharmacist who began writing gospel songs and eventually became an editor of hymnals and songbooks, as well as a popular music director at camp meetings, conventions, and churches. His darkroom served as the ideal setting for him to spend time alone with God while pursuing his hobby of photography.
One day in March 1912, while waiting for film to develop, he opened his Bible to John 20. Miles later said: ” As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene . . . My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of the garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in and hurried away. John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.”
“As they departed, Mary reappeared, leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb. She wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing; so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched and looking into his face, cried, ‘Rabboni!’
I awakened in full light, gripping my Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision, I wrote quickly as the words would be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening, I wrote the music.”
He published the following song books: “New songs of the gospel” (1900), “The service of praise” (1900), “The voice of praise” (1904), “The tribute of song” (1904), “New songs of the gospel #2” (1905), “Songs of service” (1910), “Ideal Sunday school hymns” (1912). He wrote and/or composed 400+ hymns. He died in Philadelphia, PA.
You can listen to the hymn here:
Sources:
Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan
https://hymnary.org/text/i_come_to_the_garden_alone
